Maryam Jafari

Taster weeks have always been a valuable chance to explore different specialties during foundation training and particularly useful for those applying to ophthalmology, as they can be added to the application portfolio. However, while most pre-made taster week schedules are structured around subspecialty clinics and theatre sessions, I chose to spend my time entirely in eye casualty and found it to be a hugely rewarding environment. I believe all foundation trainees – whether or not they plan to pursue ophthalmology – can benefit from the experience for the following reasons:

Accessible Learning

Eye casualty caters to the level of foundation trainees. Many cases are simple – such as conjunctivitis, corneal abrasions, or foreign bodies – yet they provide the chance to practice focused history-taking and examination skills. Compared with subspecialty clinics, which can be highly technical, eye casualty felt much more relevant to my level. I left each day with practical knowledge I could apply to my daily practice in other rotations.

Exposure to Acute and Initial Presentations

Eye casualty is unpredictable. Alongside everyday cases, you may encounter acute angle closure, corneal ulcers, or sudden visual loss. Seeing how these are assessed and managed highlights the importance of timely recognition and referral. These experiences aren’t just useful for ophthalmology – they give you confidence in recognising red flags and improve your clinical judgment across other specialties.

Hands-On Experience

Unlike many clinic or theatre sessions, eye casualty offers real opportunities to get involved. Under supervision, I was able to take the initial history of new presentations, examine patients using the slit lamp and observe simple procedures. These small but practical skills gave me a sense of contributing to patient care rather than just observing.

Transferable to Other Rotations

Even for trainees who aren’t planning a career in ophthalmology, eye casualty is worthwhile. Ophthalmology teaching in medical school is limited, and very few foundation programmes include it as a rotation. Yet eye problems are common across many specialties. Spending a week in eye casualty can help trainees feel more confident in spotting which eye presentations are benign and which are serious – skills that are useful in emergency medicine, general practice, or on the wards, which most foundation doctors will rotate in.

Conclusion

Eye casualty gave me everything a taster week should: an accessible and supportive entry point into the specialty, useful clinical skills, and the confidence to apply them more broadly. While subspecialty clinics and theatre sessions have their place, I believe eye casualty is the setting where foundation trainees will gain the most. Teaching was practical, the cases relevant, and by the end of the week I felt more confident assessing eye problems and recognising red flags.